TRISTAN’S POVI pulled away from Dame gently and turned my attention to the other Alphas. "Can you all see what just happened? He kept an innocent child away from his parents." I could feel my anger rise as I spoke."He kept a five-year-old boy from his parents! If this is not a way of getting back to me for whatever sick reason he might have, then I don't know what this is.""Alpha Declan, we understand that you tried to protect the boy, but keeping him away for weeks when his parents are still mourning him is not so ideal.""Exactly, if we are to count, I think we have had about three to four meetings after then, in which each of them were held here. I don't see a reason why you couldn't tell him about his son." The Alphas began to speak one after the other, telling him that what he did was wrong.Declan ignored them all and turned to me. "Try to make him talk, and I will give him back to you right now." He smirked.Confused about what that meant, the Alpha exchanged a confused glan
TRISTAN’S POVBruce followed after me and drove us back home. Throughout the entire drive, I didn't utter a single word as I boiled with anger until Bruce broke the silence."Alpha, I think we will be taking a huge risk if we resort to a war. I hate to admit it, but the alliances were right; we are already suffering from great damage. We are yet to recover from the invasion, we can't afford another war." He looked at me from the corner of his eyes, while his attention was focused on the road."Declaring war means putting everyone's life on the line. You should reconsider your decision," Bruce said."Well they leave me no other option but to fight that asshole," I groaned, and he nodded."I know you are pissed, but in my opinion, you could have picked the last option. The Southerners would be here in a few days, and they were willing to help our pack and form an ally with us." He sighed. "In no time, we will get our pack back to normal and we can reclaim Dame. War should be out of the o
VANESSA’S POVTristan left the room after placing a kiss on my forehead. I couldn't help but worry about his safety. He wouldn't tell me the details about his so-called mission and I feared he was about to get himself into something dangerous."We will continue from where we stopped," his words echoed in my mind and my concern was mixed with apprehension.Pushing my thoughts aside, I went into the kitchen to get a bottle of water when I saw Ayra preparing to make some midnight snacks."Hungry, huh?" I chuckled and she let out an embarrassed smile."I barely ate anything all day long and now my stomach won't stop grumbling." She groaned."Prepare the food for two," I smiled, drawing out a stool, as I sat behind her."Ayra…" I called out, unsure if I should tell her about what was running through my mind or not."Yes?" She said softly, her back facing me with her attention fixed on the cooker."Have you ever been in a relationship?"Ayra turned to face me, probably surprised at my quest
TRISTAN’S POVBruce and the guards that would be coming along were already prepared to leave by the time I came out and I felt encouraged by the sight.I brought out the map in my pocket and showed it to the rest of them. "Here is the map that will be guiding us tonight." I know Declan is a smart man, and he would have tightened his security, so we just need to find a route with less security and get Dame out of there."Alpha, are we going there to attack or rescue?" One of the guards asked."We are going there to rescue someone, but if you see any threat, don't hesitate to attack first. You need to protect yourselves." I said, and they nodded.I couldn't bring myself to tell them who were were going there to rescue, not when the chances of getting him out were slim. I don't want to risk rumour spreading around.After loading the trunk with all we will be needing, we hit the road."Alpha, I think we should stop the car here. If we park outside his house, we will be drawing unwanted at
TRISTAN’S POV"You might need to hurry because I heard your pack is under attack yet again." Declan words left me confused for a while before I was able to process what he was saying.Without any hesitation, I went to get the rest of my men and we hit the road immediately. "Step on it," I ordered."Alpha, are you sure this is not another prank Declan is trying to play? Why would there be another attack, when they won't attack the smallest pack in the alliance." Bruce said.I ignored his words and my only concern was how Vanessa was doing and if she was safe. As we moved closer to the pack, screams filled the air, followed by whimpers and the sound of people running."Bruce, you need to protect the people," I said, ordering the other men to follow him as I drove the car home at full speed.I made sure to hit the few rogues who tried to attack me on the road without a second thought. I left the car outside not wanting to gather so much attention as I ran inside.I was welcomed by Vanes
DECLAN’S POVDame broke out in tears the moment Tristan left the room. Before I could reach out to him to calm him down, he ran after him, but his little legs couldn't meet up with Tristan."Daddy!" He cried as he threw different toys at anyone who tried to move closer to him."Dame, Daddy will soon be back. That is what he says, remember?" I said calmly, trying to get the boy to relax. Just when I thought he had calmed down, he threw one of his toys and it hit me smack in the fcae. Then he ran off. "Ugh!" I groaned. We looked everywhere for him but nobody knew where he was hiding.After searching for what felt like an eternity, I finally found Dame hiding inside my closet, a mischievous smirk spread across my lips at how the boy had fooled us all and made us believe he was elsewhere.I tried to carry him out, but I was welcomed by a sharp pain. He had bitten me.Annoyed, I forced him out, and he began screaming, "Daddy! Daddy!" repeatedly.For some weird reason, his non-stop daddy c
TRISTAN’S POV“Before we conclude, I have a few conditions to add."Declan gave me a suspicious look, as he leaned back on his chair. "A condition? One would think I am the one in need and not the other way," he smirked.I ignored his remark and continued. "Once the pack becomes yours, I want you to leave the pack affairs to me. I know what's best for the pack and I guess that is the only way left I have to protect it."Declan stared at me for a moment before he broke the silence. "Would that be all?""Also, I need you to give me a few days to get the pack ready.""I was expecting some big conditions per your excellency," he chuckled. "But we can work with that. Once you are ready to sign the deal, we will call for the alliance meeting to best our witness, and to be fair." He said and I nodded.Declan? Play fair? Those are two words that can't sit together."I'm guessing everything is now up to you then," he said with an arrogant smirk."That being said, can I check on Dame before lea
VANESSA’S POVI stood there in shock, unable to comprehend what he was talking about. Hand over his pack? I knew how much the pack and the people meant to him. The way he made it sound like it was not a big deal made me realize just how much he was hurting inside."Who are you handing over the pack to?" I found myself asking that when at least a thousand questions were running through my mind."Declan," he said, and I felt something break inside of me. Why does it have to be Declan of all people? Why is fate playing such a risky game with me? There is no way I could stay hidden anymore if Declan took over the pack. Just how long do I have to shudder at the sound of his name?Tossing my pride aside, I began to beg Tristan not to let go of the pack to him. "I know this might sound unreasonable, but is there nothing that can be done? Maybe you can borrow money from the other Alphas… and anything, just to ensure that you don't hand over the pack the pack."I did not want to sound despera
Vanessa's POV"Vanessa! Come and play with us!""Yes please, we are tired of playing alone," the kids whined as I sat down on the swing and watched them play by themselves."No, we want to play hide and seek," one of the kids whined, and I smiled at them."We have been playing hide and seek all morning," I said, still panting, from running for a long time. "You should play another game or I will have everyone go back inside," I threatened them, but it didn't even look like they were listening to me."Let's play a video game. Whoever wins gets to decide what we do next," one of the kids suggested, and I couldn't help but smile about how they reminded me of Dame in every way. That trick was the same Tristan and Dame always used to get whatever they want, and watching the kids say the same thing made me smile.It was as if the kids knew about my past life. They always find a way to remind me of the past in every way.It's been three years since I left the southern pack. Three years of le
Vanessa's POVI have concluded that I would be leaving once I regained my strength, but I do not want what happened when I tried to leave the last time to repeat itself. I know Declan would probably be looking all over the place for me, and he might have stopped me from leaving again, so I thought of writing a letter to him instead.I knew going to see him and telling him whatever I had to say was the proper way to end everything, but I was afraid that I might change my mind if I saw his pained expression, or even melt at his words if he surprised me by begging me to stay or do something worse like lock me up in his house to prevent me from leaving. With Declan, one can never be too sure.I opened the drawer and saw everything the way I left it. It was as if Tristan was hoping that one day I would return back to him. I expected him to throw out all of my belongings and wipe out every single trace or reminder of me in his pack, but he didn't.I imagined the good life I could have had w
Declan's POVTwo days have passed, and I have no clue where Vanessa might be. Even after watching the CCTV footage, I refused to believe that Vanessa would leave me. I spoke to the doctor and he said the side effects of the drug and injection he gave her were drowsiness and hallucination. Judging from how she left the hospital, I want to believe that she was sleepwalking and she is properly in some kind of danger right now.I had my men look everywhere for her, but she was nowhere to be found. We searched everywhere… every single road that led to the hospital. The streets nearby, we even went as far as searching through the people's houses, but there was no sign of Vanessa.I sat in my room, tapping on my table as I thought of where she might have gone. What if she had an accident? Then, the police would have said something. She doesn't have anywhere to go. She doesn't even have anything on her, where could she possibly go?Jenny…I rushed over to the kitchen where Jenny was busy cutt
Vanessa's POVCrying for so long made me feel numb and it felt like there was no water left in my eyes to shed. The injection given to me made me drowsy and my head felt heavy. I know the smartest thing to do right now was to sleep or at least lay on the bed and get some rest, but I can't afford to be anywhere around Declan anymore and I just wanted to leave.Staying in the hospital reminds me of how I watched Dame's lifeless body on the bed without being able to do anything to revive him and I think it's best to just leave.My vision was blurry, and I felt so weak. I knew I had to leave, but I couldn't even think straight. With trembling hands, I reached for the tube in my arm, wincing as I pulled it out. The pain shot through me, but I gritted my teeth and kept going. Finally, I was able to pull it out, and I staggered out of the ward, barefoot and disoriented.Every step felt like a hassle as I made my way down the corridor. I have to get out of here. Those were the only thoughts i
Declan's POVI stormed back home, feeling enraged, as my insides boiled with anger like a pot left unattended on a raging fire. Guilt weighed down on me at the reminder of Vanessa's accusations, and shame chewed me up inside. As much as I hated to admit it, she was right. Dame died because of me, I killed him.Even if that was true, it's not like I neglected them intentionally. She has equal blame in all of this. She ran away with my child and only showed up years later. If she hadn't left, or if she had ignored her pride and informed me about the pregnancy, none of this would have happened.Dame's death hasn't been easy on me too, heck, it hasn't been easy on anyone. Even the maids are grieving his death so what made her think she could get mad at me on this? I understand that she was mourning her child, but he was my son too.I could feel all sorts of emotions surge inside me; anger, irritation, hurt, and pain.The last time I felt this way was when I lost Ellena, and now, once agai
Chapter 140Vanessa's POVI woke up in the hospital bed, surrounded by the sterile scent of antiseptic and the low hum of medical equipment. My body felt heavy like I was being dragged in the mud, and all of my pain came rushing back in double folds.When I lost Dame in the rogue attack, I thought that would be the end of me. I cried every day and became a mess because he was all I lived for. But then Tristan came back to tell me he was alive, all of my pains vanished into the air. It felt like I was given a reason to live again. To work harder, to become a better mother.Just when I thought I had all the time in the world to be with my boy, I lost him to the cold hands of death. I wanted to scream, to yell out my frustration. I wanted to blame somebody so badly, and hate them for the rest of my life, but where do I begin?I haven't shed a single tear since we got back home from the hospital. This one was different— I had two weeks to prepare for his death. His death wasn't exactly ne
Chapter 139Declan's POVIt's been a week since Dame died. Seven miserable days of wishing and hoping even though no amount of breakdown would bring him back. The last time I felt this vulnerable was when Ellena died. I wasn't even this sad when I lost my parents.Everything felt vain and I had lost the will to continue with my role as the Alpha or do anything to gain more wealth or power. What was the use of all my power and influence when it couldn't save my son from dying?What is the point of being the most powerful Alpha when I can't even keep the one thing I wanted most in my life?What hurt the most was the fact that I was beside Dame when he took his last breath, but I wasn't there for him. I slept peacefully that night, thinking I still had another day to grant his wishes. I went to bed feeling on top of the world because I finally got to hear him call me father, not knowing those would be his last words.If only I had known that those were the last time I'd hear him speak, m
Vanessa's POVI traced my hands on the bed, expecting to feel a small hand or at least a tiny body, but there was none. I opened my eyes lazily and found myself in a room different from the one I thought I would be in.I was at Dame's ward until last night, how did I end up here? Judging from the smell, I could tell that I was still at the hospital. Did I pass out? I searched my body checking for any visible injury but other than the throbbing pain in my heart and the headache that has become a constant thing since I found out about Dame's health, I am all good.Maybe Declan brought me here so that I can sleep peacefully. I stood up from the bed and made my way to Dame's ward, where Dame and Declan were sleeping peacefully.This is the first time Declan has looked peaceful since we have been visiting the hospital. He was trying so hard to stay strong, to hide his feelings, but he couldn't always keep them in check. His expressions sometimes sell him off.Dame clung onto Declan's cloth
Declan's POVVanessa paced the room anxiously, waiting for Tristan to return with Dame as I watched from the minibar. We haven't said a word to each other since our last encounter in the morning and I do not want to say another word knowing she would end up misunderstanding it.Right on cue, Tristan came in with Dame sleeping peacefully in his arms. Vanessa's worried expression was soon replaced with excitement as she rushed over to his side."Thank you so much for today," Vanessa gave Tristan a warm smile which made my stomach twitch. The way Dame and Vanessa act so comfortable around Tristan was enough to rile me up, and once again, Tristan does that thing he always does.He acts like the perfect gentleman that Vanessa could always lean on. Too fake if you ask me. They seemed to be carried away with their little conversation to notice my presence.I made my way to them, and Tristan handed a basket of fruit to Vanessa simultaneously."What is that?" I pointed at the little puppy roam